CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke sophomore Verity Abel earned a U.S. Olympic Trials cut in the 800-meter freestyle and Blue Devil alumna and volunteer assistant coach Ashley Twichell posted the second-fastest time in the world this year in the 1,500 freestyle on the opening day of competition at USA Swimming’s Arena Pro Swim Series at Charlotte.
Twichell bested the field in the 1,500 freestyle by nearly five seconds, touching the wall at 16:11.19 to win the event. A 2011 graduate of Duke, she is coming off of a first-place performance in the 10K at the Open Water National Championships in April.